The January Trip to Utah

Dan had a VA appointment for an MRI on Janurary 18th so we made the trip down to Salt Lake.  Afterwards we found our way to Mark and Laura's new place in Lehi where Laura had made a yummy dinner and Gracie had brought Olive Garden bread sticks.
It was good to have a few minutes with them that evening.  Laura worked on my I pad for me and Mark made paper airplanes with Jace.  Annabelle picked out one of Kevin's Barbie Princesses and Grace left on a date. 
Later we headed on down to Orem where we had a room for the night.  On Saturday we went to Haini and Kristi's house so Marley and Katara could pick out their princess dolls, too.  I'm not very good at taking pictures but this is what I have

 

(I still need help turning my pictures upright.)  We left and came home later that night.  The roads were good both going down and coming back.  In January. that's a real blesing.

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Alisha's Beautiful

Alisha got a new Christmas dress and the first time she wore it she looked so beautiful, we just had to take some pictures.

I can't seem to upright my pictures on my blogs anymore.  Any suggestions?

A Very Different Christmas Day

Christmas Day 2012 was a very different day for us.  It was the first Christmas that we spend without children around.  At 22, Alisha is certainly not a child and didn't get up before 9:00.  I spent the morning on FB just waiting for the day to begin.  Thanks to Seth and Ali, we had the tree up and the lights on outside before we went to Salt Lake.  I think they did a good job of decorating for us and I really appreciate their help.
Around 10:00 we gathered at the tree and opened presents. Although Alisha had already seen and tried on her clothes, she insisted that I wrap them up for her. So, she unwrapped her gifts and Dan and I unwrapped ours. 

 

We got a new calendar from Daniel and Dalynn and are excited to hang it and see the wonderful pictures on it.

 

Alisha apprecites her new clothes!

 

Seth and Ali gave us a nice quote to hang.

  

Dan got the Conference DVDs

 

and he gave me an earwax remover.

 



 Kevin sent two sets of Disney Barbie Princesses for me to share with the

granddaughters.  I love it!!

 

      Dan got some new pajama bottoms.

 

 

 

Tessha and Patrick gave us a Regal gift certificate and we have used it twice already.  We say Les Miserables on Christmas Day and The Hobbit today.  Thank you both!

Gracie gave us fruit cake, chocolates and a wonderful, little hand warmer all from Germany.  The fruit cake and chocolates didn’t last long but the hand warmer will be used for many years to come.  I love it!    

 Kristi, Laura and Gracie gave me a Nike + SportsBand.   

for when I run. I look forward to using it when the snow is gone. Thank you all!

 

Sitani, Marley and Elijah gave Dan and I both got mugs from the Sugies with sayings that they put on them. Love them!  I can't wait to take mine to school and have hot chocolate in the mornings.  Thank you sweet Sugies

Kristi, Laura and Gracie gave me a Nike + SportsBand for when I run.  I look forward to using it when the snow is gone.  Thank you all!

Sitani, Marley and Elijah gave Dan and I both mugs with sayings that they put on them.
Love them! I can't wait to take mine to school and have hot chocolate in the mornings.

Thank you sweethearts!

 

Doug and Linda sent a gift card that I'm sure we will use soon.

If I've forgotten anything, it's totally by accident and I'm so sorry.

Thank you everyone!

 

      Then we had a lunch of ham and potatoes.

 

   A good but very different Christmas day! 

Pre-Christmas Weekend

Dad had a VA appointment on Dec. 21 so Alisha and I went with him.  The appointment went well and he was even invited to participate in a research study about hospital beds for disabled vets.  His pictures are on his phone which is broken now but it will be fun to get them off and blog about it later.
Afterwards, we met up with Kristi and Laura's families and walked around Temple Square. It was beautifully lit up and we spend some good time in the Visitor Center.

 

 

Mark met us at Chuck Wagon and we all had dinner before heading home.

 

We stayed the night in Orem and then went to Kristi's the next afternoon.  Alisha and I went shopping for some Christmas clothes for her.  We found just what we wanted and went back to Kristi's.  Laura brought down a wonderful Christmas ham and we baked potatoes and other vegetables.  It was a great dinner but the best part was after dinner.

 

We got to open Christmas presents together.